An Atlantic City K-9 officer federally charged in an arrest that went viral was acquitted by a federal jury Thursday.
Sterling Wheaten, now 38, has been suspended without pay since he was federally indicted in 2018, on charges that he violated a suspect's rights and then falsified his report in the arrest that happened outside the Tropicana in 2013.
Connor Castellani needed 200 stitches to close up the wounds caused by Wheaten's dog.
Wheaten and the five other officers involved in Castellani’s arrest were cleared by a grand jury in Superior Court.
But five years later, the federal indictment came against only Wheaten.
On Thursday, jurors took less than four hour to clear him of both charges.
Defense attorney Lou Barbone called the verdict "complete and deserved vindication for a federal witch hunt in Atlantic City that almost ruined a life and a most promising career."
Wheaten was suspended in 2018. In 2019, he unsuccessfully fought to be paid while on suspension.
Now, his attorney will move to get that back pay restored.
"After almost nine years, this matter has finally reached a courtroom where a jury, after careful deliberation and consideration of all the facts and evidence presented has rendered a verdict," Officer in Charge James Sarkos said. "Their decision can be heard loud and clear. I wish to thank the jurors for their commitment and responsibility as they performed their honorable civic duty."
He said the Police Department will have no further comment at this time.
Castellani was 20 years old when he was kicked out of the Tropicana on June 15, 2013.
That's where video from outside the casino came in, showing the Linwood man having words with the officers. Wheaten was not yet on scene.
At one point, he is taken to the ground. Wheaten pulls up with his dog.
Castellani was indicted on charges of aggravated assault on a police officer and resisting arrest in the case. He was allowed to enter into pretrial intervention, which he completed.
He is now an attorney.
Wheaten was then accused of preparing and submitting a false report "to justify his actions against the victim."
